Following its tenth season in 2007, “Stargate SG-1” was cancelled by the Sci-Fi channel. A ten-season run is spectacular, although, particularly contemplating “SG-1” was virtually axed after season 8 to make approach for an additional sequence. By season 8, star Richard Dean Anderson had determined to step away from his position as Jack O’Neill on “SG-1,” and a brand new sequence appeared like the best way to go in his absence. A never-realized spin-off sequence, entitled “Stargate Command,” would have seen Ben Browder’s Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Beau Bridges’ Main Normal Hank Landry lead an all-new present that integrated components of the unique. In the end, nevertheless, the choice was made to proceed with “SG-1,” and concepts for “Command” have been built-in into the present’s closing two seasons. However this would not be the primary time “SG-1” writers pivoted from their unique plans.
All through the sequence’ 10-year run, there have been a number of modifications and last-minute choices made that altered the course of the present. For instance, the unique community, Showtime, initially tried to shoehorn nudity into “SG-1” however that strategy was rapidly scrapped after pushback from the actors and writers. These on-the-fly modifications additionally prolonged to particular characters. Such was the case with Claudia Black’s Vala Mal Doran, who was launched within the eighth season. Initially set to seem in that one installment, Vala truly got here again for a six-episode arc earlier than turning into an everyday member of the SG-1 crew.
Vala was initially presupposed to be a one-and-done Stargate character
Vala Mal Doran was a human with a Goa’uld background who first appeared within the season 8 episode of “Stargate SG-1” entitled “Prometheus Unbound.” She then returned in a recurring capability for season 9. In an interview with GateWorld throughout that ninth season, Claudia Black spoke about her return, saying, “I am stunned to have the ability to stroll onto a set and really feel so snug.” The previous “Farscape” actress praised the “social facets” of being on-set and recalled how the crew even advised her that she would most certainly be again after her character survived the occasions of “Prometheus Unbound.”
In response to the Australian actress, whose character in the end went on to change into a part of the principle solid in season 10, her preliminary debut on the present was shaky at greatest. In reality, she revealed that she did not even suppose she’d be capable to seem in “Prometheus Unbound” because of her commitments to “Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars,” which was capturing in Australia near the time she was because of seem on “SG-1” over in Canada. As Black defined:
“It was simply fortunate timing that I completed my post-syncs for ‘Peacekeeper Wars’ in time to get on the airplane with two days discover and get the Canadian work allow and get right here. Effectively, it was fortunate the Canadian authorities could be very type to Australians they usually expedite the method as a result of we’re a part of the commonwealth.”
Black added that “Prometheus Unbound” was presupposed to be what she deemed a “bottle episode,” which she described as an episode with a “contained funds, nothing off-world, no costly places” and “simply one thing that was character-based.” Black continued, “I favored that after I first learn it, that it was simply self-contained story, that I would not should get used to the entire world straight-away, and be overwhelmed by it, doubtlessly. In fact, Black must get used to the entire world when she returned for her six-episode arc in season 9.
Claudia Black impressed the Stargate SG-1 producers
In her GateWorld interview, Claudia Black spoke about her causes for accepting the position of Vala Mal Doran, saying that the “Prometheus Unbound” script “was actually humorous.” She continued:
“I simply needed to guarantee that they’d the identical intentions as I had inferred. And so I spoke to Andy Mikita and stated to him, ‘How far can I am going with the comedy, as a result of I see some nice potential for the character. And he stated, ‘Oh, go all the best way, honey! Do no matter you need.'”
As such, Vala was very a lot meant to not solely be a one-and-done character, however comedian aid for a self–contained episode. Clearly, although, Black made an impression on the producers. In a separate GateWorld interview, “SG-1” co-creator Brad Wright and producer Robert C. Cooper spoke about how the actress “got here in and simply blew us away.” Futhermore, her chemistry with Daniel Jackson actor Michael Shanks — who beforehand left “SG-1” for a season – was an enormous a part of why Black was introduced again. “We began instantly spinning, ‘How will we get her again and make her an even bigger half?'” stated Cooper. “As a result of what you do not need to do is totally soften her character and lose this dynamic that was so fantastic, that Moonlighting form of factor.”
In response to Cooper, he and the opposite producers have been keenly conscious that Jack O’Neill actor Richard Dean Anderson would quickly be stepping away from “SG-1” and that meant they wanted a brand new addition to the “navy presence.” Bringing Vala again to change into a brand new member of the SG-1 crew was the right resolution, including a complete new primary solid member to the sequence for its closing season.
